Website studydriver.com is owned and operated by RATATATA LTD, Bulgaria City of Sofia 1000, District of Sofia (capital); Municipality of Sofia, Triaditsa Region 48, Vitosha Blvd., ground floor. We have experts for any subject. [], The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both deals with characters that question their mortality due to death. She says that he is being held captive on an island by the goddess Calypso, who is trying to wipe out all thoughts of his homeland. Agamemnon has had a dream and is confident the gods are now on the side of the Achaians against the Trojans; he decides to test his army and announces that they are free to go home if they wish. Their own best claim to glory.". Ultimately his loyalty to family and homeland is more important than anything Calypso can offer. His concern for his men is only matched by his own desire to rise above mortal limits. He believes that the gods are against him and his position is hopeless. Early in the poem we are informed that Odysseus had chosen one of his friends to be the overseer of his family and property. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/analysis-of-odysseus-as-a-good-leader/. Then, being much troubled in mind, I said to my men, "My friends, it is not right that one or two of us alone should know the prophecies that Circe has made me, I will therefore tell you about them, so that whether we live or die we may do so with our eyes open. Unfortunately, the inhabitants [], The Odyssey is a story about Odysseus return home, and the struggles he faces. Consequently, this gives him experience when it comes acting in difficult situations. The story of The Odyssey with Odysseus being a great leader has been told for many years and will be told many years to come. "I reassured the ghost, but he broke out, protesting, "No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus! We learn that Odysseus is driven off course many times on his perilous voyage home. Some of us may be more susceptible than others are, but there's always a siren. ", "and no one knew him at all I alone, I spotted him for the man he was. But you can one from professional essay writers. Why is Odysseus a Bad Leader. Another part of the adventure where this is portrayed is when Odysseus and his men are on Circes island. The first main trait that demonstrates Odysseus is a worthy leader is his optimistic approach to the difficult tasks both he and his men faced during their adventure. He failed to tell them what was going on when they arrived and failed to tell them how long they were staying. Scylla was a huge monster that had twelve large legs like tentacles and 6 heads with fangs. Odysseus proves to be an epic hero in The Odyssey by showing bravery,intelligence and respect for the gods.Odysseus shows his intelligence by having his men tie him up to the mast as they sail past the sirens,so odysseus dont lose his will to get home.Odysseus use his bravery by going past scylla,so that he does not risk losing 380-381). - Odysseus. Unique to Odysseus as an ideal hero as he was a rare intelligent hero Strategy quotes 'quick witted' 'resourceful' 'at every twist of strategy he excelled us all' - Nestor to Telemachus The ideal wife complements odysseus Puts him above other men as he and his wife can work together as a team. Both of these stories show how fame can interact [], Essentially a tale of warfare, Homers Iliad presents the Trojan War as a traditionally male-focused conflict. At Polyphemuss cave, Odysseus shows no fear confronting and speaking to the Cyclops in the beginning. Next, the group was stranded on Circes island and his men were turned into animals by the goddess. Heroes orders are followed and pursued, but Odysseus wasn't. The fate of Odysseus is being controlled by a vengeful Poseidon, angered at the blinding of his son, Zeus acknowledges. Odysseus is trapped on Calypsos island, where the nymph is keeping him and wants him for her husband. Odysseus lacked to be a good leader when him and his men were on the way to Ithaca. Helen, the young woman over whom the Trojan War is being fought, provides some basic information on Odysseus. Leaders must fall above their followers in certain ways, like levels of knowledge and readiness for whatever may come their way. The major themes in The Odyssey are especially significant because they serve to form the moral and ethical constitution of most of the characters. . Strategy. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Listen: shouting, echoing round me women, girls or the nymphs who haunt the rugged mountaintops and the river springs and meadows lush with grass! Secondly, Odysseus can be deceitful and not fully communicate the facts of each situation. The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 119-123. Beset by vengeful gods and facing many challenges, Odysseus has lost nearly everything, but his ultimate goal has remained unwavering. Example 2 "At first, my comrades urged me to grab some cheeses and return.but I did not agree" (Book 9. Odysseus being a leader makes him a hero because he makes bold decisions and he protects himself and his, Some may diagree with Odysseus style of leadership because it may appear to not be sensible or well thought out. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Straight forward they sprinted, lifted it and rammed it deep in his eye chater (Hom. We get a brief synopsis of the story of the epic poem. In the Odyssey, Odysseus states, I tied them [rams] silently together then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left and right. Poseidon may have condemned Odysseus to an additional ten years suffering at sea, but his fate has attracted the attention of the other gods who want to help him. Latest answer posted July 08, 2020 at 12:54:27 PM. The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 148-158. That was how the war was won, and it was all thanks to Odysseus and his cleverness and ability to lead. The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 246-249. He attributes the Greeks eventual and hard-won victory to the will of Zeus, but also to the cunning of Odysseus. In order to do this, he hid his men in cattle to escape from the cyclops. However, his curiosity got the better of his, which resulted in at least 6 of Odysseus best men dying. However, he prophecies that Odysseus will end up back in his homeland of Ithaca with many treasures, because that is his destiny. After seven years trapped on Calypsos island as her sex-slave, the goddess-nymph and enchantress has agreed to free Odysseus. Odysseus knew about this and wanted to spare his life. Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Stop wasting your time searching for samples! This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. Latest answer posted October 02, 2020 at 3:09:58 PM. He compliments her beauty and compares it in a metaphor to a blooming flower. Using a metaphor, Nestor compares the siege of Troy by the Greeks to a spider weaving a web. First, he discloses the disturbing information to his men, so they know as much as he does about the fate that awaits them on the sea. During the time Odysseus encounters many divergent tough tasks, he always overcomes many tasks with his men when he encourages them. Why was Odysseus not a good leader? Odysseus is a prominent figure in the story about his journey home after the Trojan War,The Odyssey; however, he is merely a supporting character in the Iliad by Homer. She is the [], After the events of the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men headed back home to Ithaca. First she said we were to keep clear of the Sirens, who sit and sing most beautifully in a field of flowers; but she said I might hear them myself so long as no one else did. In the end, Odysseus and his crew avoided the Sirens because all of his men listened to him. A heavy sea covered him over, then and there unlucky Odysseus would have met his death against the will of Fate but the bright-eyed one inspired him yet again. Furthermore, how can we consider Odysseus a hero if his commands are not followed by his men. When Odysseus stabbed the Cyclopes in the eye, it is considered a huge, bold risk "Straight forward they sprinted, lifting it, and rammed it deep in his crater eye" (book IX. If I beg and pray you to set me free, then bind me more tightly still.". Zeus instructs his son Hermes to deliver his command to Calypso concerning Odysseus. He neglected to tell them anything, which resulted in 6 of his men being eaten. Accessed 5 Mar. "There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep." The Odyssey. In this story, he solidifies his reputation as a strong leader, which is why we are willing to follow his journey. While Odysseus longs to return to his wife Penelope in Ithaca, the bewitching goddess Calypso holds him back. Enumerate the epic conventions that you can find in books 1 and 2 of the Iliad? Is he not being disloyal to Penelope here? 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. This foreshadows the exact same tactics being used by Odysseus, with Athenas help, to return unnoticed to Ithaca. Retrieved March 4, 2023 , from https://studydriver.com/odysseus-showed-bad-leadership/, Get in touch with our top writers for a non-plagiarized essays written to satisfy your needs. our extensive database of written samples to find the inspiration or research youre looking In a bird simile she is compared to a "shearwater on the wing." Odysseus is meeting with Tiresias (a blind prophet) to learn his future. The shipwrecked Odysseus flatters Nausicaa in a bid to gain her assistance, even comparing her to the goddess Artemis. ", "Yet I tell you great Odysseus is not dead. They said dreadful danger/ lurks there for us. When he realizes his men are in danger, he is confident in an escape plan and taking the risks to go through with it. She is mortal after all and you, you never age or die Nevertheless I long I pine, all my days to travel home and see the dawn of my return. The Odyssey, Book 6, lines 142-153. But come, all of us here put heads together now, work out his journey home so Odysseus can return. Throughout The Odyssey, he lead his men well by thinking every situation through. At the beginning of the poem the narrator invokes the Muse the Muses were ancient Greeces goddesses of literature, science and the arts. However, Odysseus did not disclose any information to his crew. Book 1 of The Odyssey is titled "Athena inspires the prince" and that is what the goddess is attempting to do. It was so huge that we could only compare it to the mast of a twenty-oared merchant vessel of large burden, and able to venture out into open sea. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. eNotes Editorial, 7 Oct. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-quotes-show-how-odysseus-is-a-good-leader-1948083. The Odyssey, Book 4, lines 272-277. Odysseus is a great leader, and a hero. He is confident that he represents virtue even when a modern audience might not be so sure. After that, he stays equally as strong when faced with Poseidons anger and the journey ahead of him. " This is perhaps the most famous example of leadership by Odysseus. This shows Odysseus as a good leader because he tied his men down to the ship and left the island because he knew it was the best way to save them from the Lotus. Odysseus and his men will be left for dead. The lack of obedience and respect for Odysseus shows the lack of leadership role that he has between he and his followers. According to the article, The Nine Traits that Define Great Leadership, explain that an optimistic leader The very best leaders are a source of positive energy. He is a valiant warrior, but he is most known for his skills as a wise orator as well as his wiliness (craftiness, slyness) in using words to make things happen. If Odysseus told them what they were going to encounter, then they couldve been more prepared to fight or avoid this monster. Traits of being a good leader are being determined, being intelligent, and using good judgement. So his destiny ordains. "But my heart breaks for Odysseus, that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long far from his loved ones still, he suffers torments off on a wave-washed island rising at the center of the seas. "There's always a siren, singing you to shipwreck. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Odysseus is saying this to himself after being wakened up by a group of young Phaeacian girls playing ball. We will occasionally send you account related emails. Odysseus fears his imminent death after Poseidon creates a storm at sea while he is sailing home from Calypsos island. on the headland, sitting, still, weeping, his eyes never dry, his sweet life flowing away with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home, since the nymph no longer pleased. "Men are so quick to blame the gods: they say that we devise their misery. A hero's funeral then, my glory spread by comrades - now what a wretched death I'm doomed to die! The goddess and nymph Calypso keeps Odysseus as a sex slave on her island of Ogygia for seven years. The Odyssey, Book 5, lines 515-523. What are 3 examples of times when Odysseus demonstrated epic hero/god like qualities in The Odyssey? When we do see him, he is generally described as being "godlike" or somehow connected to the gods because of his wisdom or bravery. What are the worthwhile causes for fighting a war? That is what I'm called by my mother and father." Quote regarding Melantho's behavior "Melantho of the pretty cheeks jeered at him outrageously" Quote regarding the Cyclops prayer of revenge "Grant that Odysseus.may never reach his home in Ithaca" Moreover, after Odysseus and his men fight the Cicones, he orders Back and Quickly! An epic simile compares his delight to the joy of children when the gods deliver their father from serious illness. (Page 21-22). As a man will bury his glowing brand in black ashes, off on a lonely farmstead, no neighbors near, to keep a spark alive no need to kindle fire from somewhere else so great Odysseus buried himself in leaves and Athena showered sleep upon his eyes. However, the Odyssey states, Driven by hunger, they ignore Odysseus warning not to fest on Helios cattle Zeus sends down a thunderbolt to sink Odysseus ship. Let us have but the one leader, the one true king, to whom Zeus, the son of Cronos of wily counsel, gave sceptre and command, to rule his people wisely.". Let's start by finding a writer. In The Odyssey, how does the character of Odysseus change from the beginning of his quest until the end? Like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years abroad, his only son, the apple of his eye for whom he has sacrificed much, the admirable swineherd threw his arms round Telemachus'. Helen tells the story of how Odysseus cunningly disguised himself as a begger to slip into Troy unrecognized during the Trojan war. Having floated in heavy seas for two days and nights, battling Poseidons storms, Odysseus makes this plea for divine help. The three men were put under a spell where they forgot their way home, but Odysseus forcefully brought them back to the ship himself.